Can't unlock my Clio manually (turning key in lock)?

[chubblesprime]

Hi, this is my first post so here goes.

I got my first car a couple of days ago, (1999 Clio 1.2 Ph1) and I noticed that I was un-able to unlock my car manually. The only way to open my car is by using the key fob button. The key physically wont turn left or right in the lock and I was just wondering if anyone had any solutions?

As a side note the key fob seems to take a couple of pushes of the button before it's willing to unlock the car, could this be solved with a new battery?

Thanks.

 

[guysy]

I may be wrong but if the key doesnt turn it could be because the barrel has been replaced for any reason i.e. the old barrel had been bent/broken from someone trying to force entry to the car.

A new battery will help yeah, I've replaced mine a few times, makes the range better but mine still seems crap!

 

[chubblesprime]

Thanks very much, so if the barrel has been changed would I be right in thinking that I will never be able to unlock manually?

Also would you happen to know where/easiest way to replace the battery?

 

[guysy]

Im not too sure mate, someone else might be able to tell you what else it could be, all I'm basing it on is if you put the wrong key in a lock it doesnt normally turn left or right, so it doesnt move at all? could be the insides are stuck but if its really ridged I'd say maybe its a different barrel.

If you want you could take the door card off and have a look from the inside, might show up something.

Battery is easy, sometimes the case can be stiff but take the keyring off, and the two parts slide apart so just push from top and bottom and one way it should slide off.

Battery should be a 'CR1220' but im not definitely sure if its the same in your key. Ebay or amazon should be cheap.

 

[Beasley Clio182]

Hi, this is my first post so here goes.

I got my first car a couple of days ago, (1999 Clio 1.2 Ph1) and I noticed that I was un-able to unlock my car manually. The only way to open my car is by using the key fob button. The key physically wont turn left or right in the lock and I was just wondering if anyone had any solutions?

As a side note the key fob seems to take a couple of pushes of the button before it's willing to unlock the car, could this be solved with a new battery?

Thanks.

Its quite a common thing to be honest , but guysy got it right sounds to me like its had a barrel or door replacement at some point and its not been sorted to the old one ! People have come into our garage asking to just swap the door because they have got one of a scrapper with less dents / scuffs and they dont want the door stripping just putting on !!
Cant see it being a barrel fault as normally it moves a little but it cant be ruled out as it could be seized

 

[chubblesprime]

Well that's one mystery solved, thanks guys.
I took my key fob to timpsons the watch repair shop, they offered to test my key for free, and according to their tester it wasn't very strong they replaced the batteries and then showed me how the last person to change my batteries had ruined the key. Changing the batteries means that it now doesent work at all. Luckily I found out that the passenger side door opens with the key (phew) so I wasn't locked out. To top it off Renault want £150 for a new key and programming:headno:.